Toy vehicle track set

ABSTRACT

In one exemplary embodiment, a toy track set for at least one toy vehicle is provided, the toy track set having: a track path; and a surface rotatably mounted to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/349,507 filed May 28, 2010 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND

Play sets for toy vehicles are popular toys which are known to provide entertainment and excitement to a user. These play sets typically include a track configuration intended to guide a propelled toy vehicle, such as a 1/64 scale die-cast metal toy vehicle, through a course. The track configurations include closed-loop continuous track arrangements and open-end arrangements. Toy vehicles are placed on these play set tracks and propelled across the configuration by hand or by an external propulsion means.

To bring increased entertainment and excitement to play sets, track configurations may include features such as intersecting tracks, loop segments, and other types of track configurations known in the art.

Accordingly, a play set for toy vehicles is desired which can provide the entertainment and excitement of a toy vehicle launched from a track and which also includes provisions for variations in the outcome of the vehicle travelling along the track.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one exemplary embodiment, a toy track set for at least one toy vehicle is provided, the toy track set having: a track path; and a surface rotatably mounted to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies.

In another exemplary embodiment a method of providing obstacles on a track path of a toy track set is provided, the method including the steps of: rotatably mounting a surface to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies; and locating a plurality of objects on the surface such that as the surface rotates any one of the plurality of objects may be located in the track path such that a toy vehicle travelling along the track path will collide with the object on the surface comprising the portion of the track path.

In still another exemplary embodiment, a toy track set for a toy vehicle is provided, the toy track set having: a track path; an object located proximate to the track path, the object having a portion pivotally mounted to the object for movement between a first position and a second position, the portion having a pair of arm members extending therefrom wherein a distal end of each of the pair of arm members is configured to releasably engage an item such that as the portion moves towards the first position the item releasably engaged by the distal end of one of the pair of arm members is located in a blocking position above a portion of the track path such that a toy vehicle travelling along the portion of the track path will collide with the item located in the blocking position and wherein the portion and the pair of arms are configured such that as the portion moves towards the second position the item releasably engaged by the distal end of one of the pair of arm members is located in an unblocking position above the portion of the track path such that a toy vehicle travelling along the portion will pass under the item and continue along the track path past the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a track set in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a track set in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of a track set in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4-7 are perspective views of a track set in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the attached FIGS. one exemplary embodiment of a toy track set 10 for toy vehicles 12 is illustrated. In one embodiment, the toy vehicles ride on wheels disposed in contact with the tracks or portions of the toy track set. In this embodiment, the toy track set includes a track path 14 and a surface 16 rotatably mounted to a base 18.

In an exemplary embodiment, a portion 20 of the surface comprises a portion 22 of the track path and as the surface continuously rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies as other portions of the surface are received in the track path.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the surface rotatably mounted to the base is circular in shape and the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path is received within a curved opening 24 of the track path.

Also shown in the FIGS. is that in one embodiment, the surface further comprises a plurality of openings or features 26 configured to receive wheels of toy vehicles therein 27. Of course, the features may be configured to retain other objects on the rotating surface. In any event, the features retain toy vehicles or other objects on the surface such that as the surface rotates the toy vehicles will remain on the surface and the features are configured such that the toy vehicles retained on the surface will rotate into the track path.

In addition, the features are configured such that objects retained on the surface will be spaced apart such that as the surface rotates objects may or may not be disposed in the track path.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the toy track set will further include a launcher 30 for launching a toy vehicle 12 along the track path. As such, the launchers may be configured to engage and urge a toy vehicle to travel along the track. It should be appreciated that although launchers are described herein, vehicles may be manually propelled along the track without the use of a launcher without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Although any suitable launcher may be used, in the illustrated embodiments, various automatically and manually-triggered release launcher elements are illustrated. A vehicle may be positioned in launch position such that a launch element may slidingly engage the vehicle to propel the vehicle along the track. The launch element may be biased to a launch position, such as by springs, elastic bands or any other suitable biasing mechanism such that release of an activator releases its stored potential energy. For example, non-limiting examples of releasable spring biased or other types of toy launchers are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,108,437 and 6,435,929 and U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0293122, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto as well as launchers known to those skilled in the related arts.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the track set will have a straight track segment 32 coupled to the launcher and a curved track segment 34 that terminates in a jump 36. In this embodiment, the straight track segment provides a path towards the rotating surface and the curved segment extends from the rotating surface. In one embodiment, the jump is configured to launch the vehicle back over the incoming track segment of course, numerous variations are contemplated to be within the scope of various embodiments of the present invention.

The rotating surface may also include a handle or member 38 extending from the surface such that a user may easily apply a force to rotate the surface in any direction indicated by arrows 40 (e.g., clockwise or counter clockwise). Alternatively, the surface may be rotated in either direction by a motor. Still further a variable speed motor may be implemented to add further enhancements to the toy vehicle track set.

Accordingly and when a toy vehicle is travelling along the track path there is a possibility that the toy vehicle travelling along the track path will collide with one of the toy vehicles retained on the surface if the toy vehicle retained on the surface is located on the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path (See for example, the position illustrated in FIG. 3). Alternatively, the toy vehicle may pass through the surface unimpeded towards the end of the track path. Thus, enhanced play is provided to the track set wherein a user may time the launching of the vehicles so that they may or may not collide with the objects on the rotating surface. In other words, a user may have numerous options of play wherein in one implementation they may time the launching of the toy vehicle such that a collision occurs or alternatively they may launch the vehicle at a time such that no collision occurs.

Accordingly various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of providing obstacles on a track path of a toy track set, wherein the method includes the steps of rotatably mounting a surface to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies and objects located on the surface may or may not be in a blocking position such that as a toy vehicle travels along the track path it may collide with an object on the rotating surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-7 another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Here a toy track set 50 for a toy vehicle 52 is provided. In this embodiment, the track set includes a track path 54 and an object 56 located proximate to the track path. In one embodiment, the object has a portion 58 pivotally mounted to the object for movement in the direction of arrows 68 between a first position 70 (FIG. 7) and a second position 72 (FIG. 6). For example and in one embodiment once a force is applied to portion 58 the same will reciprocate back and forth for a period of time providing windows of opportunity for a user to launch a vehicle past the object. In one embodiment, the object is manually pushed such that the object has a reciprocating movement for a period of time or alternatively the object is moved by a motor or equivalent mechanism.

In one embodiment, the movable portion has a pair of arm members 74 wherein a distal end 76 of each of the pair of arm members is configured to releasably engage an item 78 such that as the portion moves towards the first position the item releasably engaged by the distal end of one of the pair of arm members is located in a blocking position above a portion 80 of the track path such that a toy vehicle 82 travelling along the portion of the track path will collide with the item located in the blocking position (FIG. 7) and cause the same to be dislodged from the arm member. In addition, the portion and the pair of arms are configured such that as the portion moves towards the second position the item releasably engaged by the distal end of one of the pair of arm members is located in an unblocking position (FIG. 6) above the portion of the track path such that a toy vehicle 82 travelling along the portion will pass under the item and continue along the track path past the object.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the object further comprises a lower body portion 90 and the portion is an upper body portion pivotally mounted to the lower body portion and the lower body portion is fixedly secured to a base member 92 that is adjacent to the track path. Still further the distal end of each of the pair of arms has at least one member 94 pivotally mounted to the distal end of each of the pair of arms such that the item can be releasably engaged between the at least one member and the distal end of each of the pair of arms. In one embodiment, the member 94 may be spring biased towards the distal end to provide a hand or gripping feature to retain the items in the object. As illustrated and in one embodiment, the object is configured to resemble a gorilla and the items retained in the gorilla's hands are toy vehicles. Of course, numerous other configurations are contemplated for example, other animals, creatures, robots, humanoid figures, story line characters or any other configuration may be used in exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Accordingly, a toy track set or a portion of a toy track set is provided, wherein a portion of the track is next to or secured to an item (e.g., figure/gorilla) that has an upper portion (torso) pivotally connected to a lower portion (legs) wherein the upper portion can releasably hold items on either side of the upper portion (e.g., arms) and when the upper portion is manually or automatically moved with respect to the lower portion the upper portion pivots back and forth such that one of the items held on either side of the upper portion is selectively placed into and out of the path of the track such that if an object travelling down the track at the same time the object is placed in the path of the track it will be knocked out of the arm of the figure.

Accordingly and as discussed above, enhanced play is provided to the track set wherein a user may time the launching of the vehicle so that they may or may not collide with the objects held in the hand of the pivoting creature or figure. In other words, a user may have numerous options of play wherein in one implementation they may time the launching of the toy vehicle such that a collision occurs or alternatively they may launch the vehicle at a time such that no collision occurs.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application. 

1. A toy track set for at least one toy vehicle, comprising: a track path; and a surface rotatably mounted to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies.
 2. The toy track set as in claim 1, wherein the surface rotatably mounted to the base is circular in shape.
 3. The toy track set as in claim 2, wherein the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path is received within a curved opening of the track path.
 4. The toy track set as in claim 1, wherein the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path surface is received within a curved opening of the track path.
 5. The toy track set as in claim 1, further comprising a launcher for launching a toy vehicle along the track path and wherein the track path further comprises a curved track segment that terminates in a jump.
 6. The toy track set as in claim 1, wherein the surface rotatably mounted to the base is further comprises a plurality of features for retaining toy vehicles on the surface such that as the surface rotates the toy vehicles remain on the surface and wherein the features are configured such that the toy vehicles retained on the surface will rotate into the track path.
 7. The toy track set as in claim 6, further comprising a launcher for launching a toy vehicle along the track path and wherein the toy vehicle launched along the track path with collide with one of the toy vehicles retained on the surface if the toy vehicle retained on the surface is located on the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path.
 8. The toy track set as in claim 7, wherein the surface rotatably mounted to the base is circular in shape.
 9. The toy track set as in claim 8, wherein the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path is received within a curved opening of the track path.
 10. The toy track set as in claim 7, wherein the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path is received within a curved opening of the track path.
 11. A method of providing obstacles on a track path of a toy track set, comprising: rotatably mounting a surface to a base, wherein a portion of the surface comprises a portion of the track path and wherein as the surface rotates on the base the portion of the surface comprising the portion of the track path varies; and locating a plurality of objects on the surface such that as the surface rotates any one of the plurality of objects may be located in the track path such that a toy vehicle travelling along the track path will collide with the object on the surface comprising the portion of the track path.
 12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the surface rotatably mounted to the base is circular in shape.
 13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path is received within a curved opening of the track path.
 14. The method as in claim 11, wherein the portion of the surface that comprises the portion of the track path surface is received within a curved opening of the track path.
 15. The method as in claim 11, further comprising a launcher for launching a toy vehicle along the track path and wherein the track path further comprises a curved track segment and wherein the surface rotatably mounted to the base further comprises a plurality of features for the plurality of objects on the surface such that as the surface rotates the plurality of objects remain on the surface and wherein the features are configured such that the plurality of objects retained on the surface will rotate into the track path.
 16. A toy track set for a toy vehicle, comprising: a track path; an object located proximate to the track path, the object having a portion pivotally mounted to the object for movement between a first position and a second position, the portion having a pair of arm members extending therefrom wherein a distal end of each of the pair of arm members is configured to releasably engage an item such that as the portion moves towards the first position the item releasably engaged by the distal end of one of the pair of arm members is located in a blocking position above a portion of the track path such that a toy vehicle travelling along the portion of the track path will collide with the item located in the blocking position and wherein the portion and the pair of arms are configured such that as the portion moves towards the second position the item releasably engaged by the distal end of one of the pair of arm members is located in an unblocking position above the portion of the track path such that a toy vehicle travelling along the portion will pass under the item and continue along the track path past the object.
 17. The toy track set as in claim 16, wherein the object further comprises a lower body portion and the portion is an upper body portion pivotally mounted to the lower body portion.
 18. The toy track set as in claim 17, wherein the lower body portion is fixedly secured to a base member that is adjacent to the track path.
 19. The toy track set as in claim 17, wherein the distal end of each of the pair of arms has at least one member pivotally mounted to the distal end of each of the pair of arms such that the item can be releasably engaged between the at least one member and the distal end of each of the pair of arms.
 20. The toy track set as in claim 19, wherein the object is configured to resemble a gorilla and the item is a toy vehicle. 